Out of Character (True Colors 2)

“You were such a badass.” Milo rubbed my head as he came around the table. “I can’t believe you did that.”

“Bold, Jasper, bold.” Professor Tuttle smiled. “That was a professional player move. Championship spirit.”

“Hey, I learned from the best.” I moved so that he could pass with his cane. I went ahead and unfolded myself from my chair. My shirt stuck to my back. I’d started sweating at some point and hadn’t even noticed.

“So, how are we celebrating?” I asked Milo as I handed over the cards. Kellan and the professor were still nearby, so I figured anything racy was off the table, but I couldn’t resist shooting him a sexy look.

“Wanna come for a drive with me?” His look was too shy to mean back-seat action was imminent, but still, this was a guy I’d follow anywhere. Especially in this mood where I felt like…a hero at last. His hero. I’d saved the day.

“Sure.” I beamed at him as we waved goodbye to the professor and Kellan. As we made our way out of the student union, I turned back to Milo. “You know, now that we’ve got the cards, you don’t have to sell.”

“Yeah, I do.” Milo gave a solemn nod, which was pretty much what I’d been expecting.

“I get it.” Maybe I hadn’t saved the day as much as given him options. Which was okay. I didn’t have to do the huge save to still help Milo and to still be a good boyfriend.

“I agreed to terms right before the match. I’m taking it tomorrow morning.”

“So soon.” I couldn’t help the wistful sigh. I understood that he needed to do what he thought was best, but I still felt bad.

“It feels right. Feels like time. This way I can pay Bruno back for some of what he spent after the accident. Clean start. And having a little nest egg for the future… That’s huge. For the first time in forever, I feel like I have choices.”

“You do. Did…did the win help with that?” Maybe I was a praise junkie but I kind of wanted to hear it.

“Absolutely. And that you were willing to risk so much…”

“I’d do it again.”

“I know. So, come with me?” Milo stopped by his car, which was gleaming under a parking lot light. All his boxes were currently stored in my parents’ garage, and he’d washed and cleaned it so carefully I was almost scared to get in. “One last drive.”

“Okay.” I cautiously settled into the front seat. Milo didn’t head for the highway, and I wasn’t at all surprised when his drive took us a few streets over from my parents’ house.

“New family seems settled in.” I gestured at his old house where two kids were riding scooters in the driveway. It was early evening still and the night air had lost almost all of its winter bite. Spring wasn’t far off now.

“Yeah, they do.” He stared for a long moment before driving on. He turned toward our old school. “I’m going to tell Bruno everything. Everything. He deserves the truth and he deserves to hear it from me.”

“He does,” I agreed as he passed the school, heading for a narrow park where we’d learned to ride bikes together. I waited until he’d pulled into the nearly empty parking lot before adding, “I’m proud of you.”

“I’m proud of me too.” His bashful smile made me melt.

“Did you bring me here to seduce me? Because I’m good with that plan.”

“I spent three hours detailing this car. You’re tempting, though.” He gave me a fast kiss that was all too light.

“No butt prints, got it.” I grinned at him.

“Goof.”

I didn’t tell him that he loved that about me because the emotion was already there in his eyes, waiting for me to say it back. And even now the words felt too big for my mouth. Bigger than maybe my brain and my heart could hold. I felt them, but speaking them was scary, an admission of how very much I was trusting Milo, how much I stood to lose, and how much I wanted that forever with him. Instead, I kissed him again, this time getting the lingering kiss I craved, and hoped he knew what I couldn’t yet say.

“I never taught you to drive a stick,” he said mournfully as we broke apart. “And now I can’t risk the clutch—”

“It’s okay.” I silenced him with another kiss. “There will be other cars.”

“Yeah. There will.” He met my gaze, eyes glowing in the evening light. We’d get more chances. More adventures. “I’m ready now. Ready for whatever happens with Bruno.”

“You are. You’re inspiring.” I stroked his prickly jaw. I was super into his scruff, and the fact that he’d been too busy cleaning the car to shave was a nice bonus.

“Me? An inspiration? Nah.” Grinning sheepishly, he shook his head.